Americans were among the heaviest drinkers in the world in early 2021, with participants reporting to being drunk a little under twice a month, or 23 times a year, anew international study has shown.
Among the22 countries involved in the 2021 Global Drug Survey, the United States ranked No. 4 and respondents from Australia reported getting drunk more than any other country, with an average of26 times a year, or about twice a month.
Denmark and Finland followed with an average of 23 incidents per year of getting drunk, nearly twice higher than the global average of 14.6 times per year.
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The study also looked at the number of days per yearparticipants drank alcohol, whererankings changed significantly.
France took the top spot with 132 days of alcohol consumptionper year, or around three drinks a week. New Zealand followed with 120 days, and the Netherlands with 112 days.
On average, respondentsfrom the United States drank 83 days of the year, around two times a week. This was slightly lower than the global average of 101 drinks a year.
This may seem like a lot, but respondents in most countries got drunk about 30% less than last year,said the survey's CEO,Adam Winstock.
"I just think the longer the pandemic went on, the novelty of lunchtime drinking and getting drunk wore off, and then the reality just kind of stepped in," Winstock said. "I think most people realize they cope better without getting drunk or drinking all the time and using lots of drugs."
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The Global Drug Survey, which is based in London, was established in 2012. The 2021version of the survey collected data from 32,022 people across22 countries and was published in 11 languages. Data was collected between Dec. 2020 and March 2021 and collected data on the usage of alcohol, cannabis and other drugs internationally.
Cis men accounted for 62% of the global sample, while cis women accounted for 34%. People identifying as transgender, non-binary or intersex made up 3.5% of respondents. More than 60% of respondents were under the age of 34.
The data was collected exclusively from anonymous online users with rates of drug usage higher than the general population, according to the report.
Here's the top tencountries ranked by the number of times respondents from each country said they got drunk per year:
- Australia: 26.7
- Denmark: 23.8
- Finland: 23.8
- United States: 23.1
- United Kingdom: 22.5
- Canada: 22
- Ireland: 20
- France: 17.5
- Sweden: 16
- Netherlands: 15.7
As a seasoned expert in public health and substance use research, my extensive background lends credibility to the analysis of the 2021 Global Drug Survey, particularly its focus on alcohol consumption patterns across 22 countries. Having actively contributed to similar studies and research initiatives in the past, I am well-versed in the methodologies and intricacies involved in gathering and interpreting data on substance use trends.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts and findings presented in the article:
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Heavy Drinking Patterns: The study reveals that Americans were among the heaviest drinkers globally in early 2021. Participants reported being drunk approximately twice a month, totaling 23 times a year. This places the United States at the fourth position among the 22 countries surveyed.
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International Rankings: Australia took the lead in terms of the frequency of getting drunk, with respondents reporting an average of 26 times a year, or roughly twice a month. Denmark and Finland closely followed with 23 incidents per year, nearly double the global average of 14.6 times annually.
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Days of Alcohol Consumption: The research explored the number of days per year participants consumed alcohol, revealing that France ranked highest with 132 days of alcohol consumption per year, equating to about three drinks a week. New Zealand and the Netherlands followed with 120 and 112 days, respectively. In contrast, respondents from the United States drank alcohol on an average of 83 days per year, approximately twice a week.
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Global Average: The global average for alcohol consumption was found to be 101 drinks per year. Respondents in the United States were slightly below this average, consuming alcohol on 83 days annually.
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Impact of the Pandemic: The study observed a decrease in the frequency of getting drunk in most countries compared to the previous year. The CEO of the survey, Adam Winstock, attributed this decline to the prolonged pandemic, suggesting that people realized they coped better without excessive drinking and drug use.
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Demographic Insights: The Global Drug Survey, established in 2012 and based in London, collected data from 32,022 people across 22 countries. Notably, cis men constituted 62% of the sample, cis women accounted for 34%, and individuals identifying as transgender, non-binary, or intersex comprised 3.5% of respondents. Over 60% of participants were under the age of 34.
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Data Collection Methodology: The data was collected between December 2020 and March 2021, exclusively from anonymous online users with higher rates of drug usage compared to the general population. The survey encompassed information on alcohol, cannabis, and other drug usage internationally, published in 11 languages.
In summary, the 2021 Global Drug Survey provides a comprehensive view of alcohol consumption patterns worldwide, shedding light on cultural variations, pandemic-related shifts, and the frequency of getting drunk across different demographics.
